The Supreme Court has agreed to take up on Tuesday separate appeals filed by the State Election Commission and the Bengal government challenging Calcutta High Court’s order to deploy central forces for the panchayat polls.

A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice M.M. Sundresh posted the two appeals for hearing on Tuesday following requests for an urgent hearing made by advocates Meenakshi Arora on behalf of the SEC and Sunil Fernandez for the Bengal government.

Arora told the bench that the SEC was challenging the twin directives of the high court passed on June 13 and 15. On June 13, the high court had asked the commission to seek the requisition of central forces for deployment in "sensitive districts" during the rural polls. In the June 15 order, the high court directed that paramilitary forces be deployed across the state.

Fernandez said the Supreme Court could hear the state government's appeal together with that of the SEC.

Initially, the bench said one SLP was sufficient to deal with the issue but later, it passed an order saying: “List on 20.06.2023, subject to curing of defects (technical objections of registry) if any.”

According to the Bengal government, there are around 63,229 gram panchayat seats, 9,730 panchayat samiti seats and 928 zilla parishad seats. Further, there are 61,636 polling booths and 44,382 polling premises in Bengal

In its appeal filed through advocate-on-record, Astha Sharma, the Bengal government has assailed the June 15 high court order on various counts. The state's contention is that the directive to deploy central forces for the polls had been given on the basis of an "erroneous assumption".

Contempt petitions

Congress leader Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari moved separate contempt petitions before the high court against the state government for not obeying the high court's June 15 directive to deploy central force within 48 hours in all districts of Bengal.

The counsels appearing for the two leaders sought permission from the division bench headed by Chief Justice for filing the contempt petition. The Chief Justice granted permission to both the parties.

In a related development, nearly 50 petitions by members of various political parties were moved before Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of Calcutta High Court on Tuesday. The petitioners claimed they could not file nominations within the time limit. The petitioners prayed for an order asking the SEC to allow them to file their nominations. The cases are likely to come up for hearing on Wednesday.

Nawsad security plea

ISF MLA Nawsad Siddiqui said he apprehended a threat to his life following incidents of poll-related violence that rocked Bhangar in South 24-Parganas last week.

Appearing for Siddiqui, his counsel Firdaus Shamim prayed for the security of his client. Justice Rajasekhar Mantha will hear his petition on Tuesday.

Trinamul leader

Trinamul Congress deputy panchayat chief of Hatpukuria gram panchayat at Canning in South 24-Parganas, Sirajul Islam, moved Justice Rajasekhar Mantha's court alleging that ruling party goons had forcefully prevented him from filing nomination as an Independent candidate. Islam had been denied a ticket by his party.

His counsel alleged that Trinamul-backed goons attacked him and his followers with deadly weapons. As the advocate general sought time, the judge fixed the matter for hearing on Tuesday.